Weight-pocket for sulkies



(No Model.)

T. J. MGMURRAY & O. A. BUSARD.

WEIGHT POCKET FOR SULKIES.

No. 462,575. Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

UNTTnn STATES ATENT Orerca.

'lIlOitlAS J. MKflliURR-AY AND OSEE A. BUSARD, OF MARION, OHIO.

WEIGHT-POCKET FOR SULKIES.

SPECIFICATEON forming part of Letters Patent No. $62,537 5, dated November 3, 1891.

Application filed February 24, 1891. Serial No. 382,454. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

.lie it. known that we, THOMAS J. MCMURRAY and Osnn A. BUSARD, both residents of Ma rion, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attaching or Securing \Veight-Pockets to Sulkies; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

()ur invention relates to lll'lIJl'OVGmGlltS in attaching or securing weight-pockets to sulkies and other racing-wagons.

As is well known, in what are termed handicap races certain of the horses are overweight ed and required to carry weights in excess of those of other horses entered, the weights varying according to circumstances and the condition of the race. These weights as usually constructed consist of pouches or pockets securely strapped to the sulky-seat and adapted to receive varying quantities of ordinary bird or other shot. This manner of weighting racing-wagons objectionable, owing to the inert character of the weights, which, being directly strapped to the seat, subjects the same to considerable jarring and strain.

The object of our invention is to remedy the above objections and provide simple and eil'icient means for connecting weights and weight-pockets to snlkics and other similar wagons, so as to prevent jarring and dead- 11 ess thereof.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1. is a view of a weight-pocket constructed in accordance withv our invention. Fig. i is a sectional view of the same.

In the said drawings, the referen ce-numeral 1 designates a pouch or pocket preferably made of leather and of a length sufiicient to extend across the seat of an ordinary sulky. This pouch or pocket is designed to contain shot or other weighting material and should be of a capacity sufficient to receive the maximum weights required in races. To the interior of the pouch is secured, by means of rivets or otherwise a metal plate 2, having an outwardly-extending neck 3, projecting through an aperture in the pouch. This neck is screw-threaded in its interior to receive a similarly-threaded metal cap 4:, having milled head 5. The ends of the pouch or pocket are formed into open-ended necks 6, within which are located coiled or other springs 7, one end of said springs being connected with the plate 2, while the other end is connected with the straps 8 and 9,by which the device is secured to the sulky-seat. The interior of the pouch or pocket is provided with a canvas or other lining 10, closing the inner ends of the necks 6, so as to prevent the escape of shot.

lVhile the above the preferred manner of constructing the device, still it is obvious thatthe necks 6 can be dispensed with and the springs connected directly with the pouch.

Other details of construction may be varied without departing from the principle of the invention, the essential feature of which consists in attaching the weight pouches or pockets to sulkies by springs or elastic connections.

The operation will be readily understood. The pocket or pouch is properly weighted by introducing the requisite quantity of shot or other material through the neck 2, and is then secured to the snlky-seat by means of the straps S and 9, the spring connections imparting a certain degree of elasticity thereto, so as to prevent jarring and overcoming the deadness thereof.

Having thus described ourinvenlion, what we claim is- 1. As an improved article, a weight-pocket provided with a cap or stopper and having springs adapted to be connected with a snlky or other vehicle, substantially as described.

2. As an improved article, a weight-pocket having coiled or other springs secured thereto, and securing-straps connected with said springs, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the pocket having to in said throats, securing-straps connected with said springs and the lining to the pouch, substantially as described.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We have hereunto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS J. MCMURRAY. OSEE A. BUSARD.

-Witnesses:

J. H. VAUGHAN, JOHN JONES. 

